Mike Perlowin's SPANISH STEEL

[Daniel Morris]

I don't know what took me so long, but I finally got around to buying one of Mike Perlowin's classical CDs.
My take:

SPANISH STEEL is one joyous CD by Mike Perlowin. He's one of a handful of pedal steel guitarists who use the instrument in mostly or exclusively non-country idioms, in this case classical music. I can't fathom the work Mike must have put into this recording - transcribing, meticulously recording parts, using various effects on numerous instruments, besides pedal steel. Talk about a one-man band (well, he did have some percussion help, but it's nearly all Mike here).
And how does it sound? It is indeed a buoyant affair. I've been partial to Spanish/Latin music since I was a boy, and for good reason. The rhythms and melodies are downright infectious, and the music lies well on steel. For straight pedal steel, there are only a few places where it's identifiable as such. A real plus? There are no instances where Mike plays steel as a 'lick machine'.
Personally, I feel the pieces by Albeniz, Rodrigo and Oyanguren work the best. There are many sections of the de Falla and Rimsky-Korsakov that work quite well for me, but my preference is for those middle tracks (12-14).
Now, I'm a huge fan of using effects with pedal steel, and I greatly enjoy hearing steel outside of its habitual environs. What is for me a bit of a distraction is that rather often, the sound of the steel - and the overall sound - come across as a tad too electronic. At times, I'd ask to be forgiven for thinking a synthesizer or pedal steel app was being used, and Mike's very real playing does prove me wrong. I also wonder how this CD would have sounded had someone else overseen the overall production. I feel there needs to be more separation, greater variety of timbres and perhaps a bit less mid-range. These are only my personal observations, and others may scratch their heads at my take.
In the end, I will affirm that this is a fine disc of Spanish music, and Mike is to be congratulated for even thinking of taking on a project like this. Salud, Mike!

The Forum store might have it, and amazon does. Mike's music is worthy of our attention.

[Charlie McDonald]

I agree. Spanish Steel is one of the favorites in my collection, music I heard in my youth, transcribed for pedal steel, and probably my favorite of Mike's works.

[Dana Blodgett]

That’s a pretty good critique by Daniel I’d say.I have enjoyed Mike’s music too. I listened with an open mind and was rewarded. It takes some skills to play multi-;instruments and do the recording also.It’s like making something old new again. The possibilities of the pedal steel guitar are endless to me. It’s not just for Country...